"Pretty Penelope,"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 2 August 1913, Page 2

"Pretty Penelope,"

' , . v" ■ (OUR SERIAL

By Lffie Adelaide Rowlands, "A Oirl'B Kingdom," 44 A Splendid : Man," "The InterBh," "Bravo Barbara/' «tc. .

CHAPTER XVll.—'Continued. "Pleasant dreams!" Penelope caurmured to herself, as she sat alone by the dying fire. Why, the very thought of sleep was absent nom her brain this night, though she ttas in truth very weary mentally and bodily. The knowledge that tv/o miles away from her, under lady Susan s roof, there was the one being on earth most dear to her. was a thought that made her heart beat in a wild, stormy way that precluded all possibility of rest or sleep. ■Must they meet? How would he look? Would he be Would silver threads have come into . his-hair?, Oh! how she longed to see Win once again.!,.Justta let her | hand' rest 4 in his*Jstrong, broad palm, j yust to feel that exquisite sensation of joy, of comfort, of protection! ] Penelope suddenly closed her eyes j with her two hands and prayed: "Dear God, ; let not see him./j Give me grace and help that I, may put him out of my heart. Help me,, to learn t6 live without him!" ;;; ~ : Marcia put on her. most manner to Lady" Susan, but sbeknew that her. efforts to win her . good; opinion ,and Ukiflg. were all .invaini :: taken no j^ns. to ctilttvate.-foeti'Sfc • ' ciety liad been-a ;very eoi'e pifet-';wittr Marcia duringthe year that to gone. She had not. given herself,; ' much trouble to • ingratiate herself with Denis* great-aunt when they first met, and then, afterwards K she had been much mortified when she . found that' Lady Susan, politely but

firmly avoided hei\, Or 1 Later on she had almost forgotten this annoyance, and indeed Lady.Susan's existence had passed for £ tune from her meniory. , On their arrival, however, at the pretty little country house, .yexation tm tltia j ject -was revived, and rn.aae .all the keener, becauset;Lady Sus;!n, very speedily out a little of her affection for and interest 111 Penelope. ■ H "We -see a great deal «f other," Lady Susan had said and*, Hatd as he listened gAfla the old lady werit oii oon- . /ersatibii, 'seeingnothing, > ,this ' noi i- sho«le ,j>f which was lost 1 on 'MarciV ';V/? ■ I a"I am tfraidj jthotigh, 4 not be able to give; you much <?f you?, causing Latimiair~sH<6 his guests (staying her . for the ball, aiid will"be occupied,; allthe time. S6mo <ine tfom your parjb' of theworld '• l)ems,' I fdWcry—a young lady named Riley and hermarried sister^' 'So Penelopej has to open her d<*ors to her friend's cliapft-ons, although she with one for herself ! , Is it not a strange idea; her living / alone? Xiidy Sttsan, surely do' not approve of such tinconfentional' ity, do youP" : , /H'.,:-. ■v- " i "Well, I don't' know; •- The world goes rdunda little quicker now than ; iti did in tmy,- young days. . X Perhaps, if Penelope were anything but whatr she is in ray eyes, and that comes very near perfection, Mrs 'liatimai - , I' j might .object to 'the position*,4;biut," as -it is—" Lady Siis,ah white, jewelled 'hands with that • was peculiarly-. characteristic'/pf. . - her.. ''Well, Penelope 1 is 'Penelopel and- then—-I am here, you knoVj in the event of -help oi 1 advise her." ' ■i: ' v •' Mareia. bit her lip and saidysomething,'she sca^cel^';kneiir ; . The glow 1 - ori ' lifer vhusbanff's face, the expression in, his eyes/. sent the; blood: Madly'through her. veins and started the demon of her-jealous pas-■ sion. Lady, looked *at her, as .she sat very silent, and a loathing, mingled with something like i" fear, came into the old lady's mind ' for this ■ . vixenish handsome-looking woman. .

; "She -hates Penelope; but why?"' mixsed the old lady to .herself. "What 'liais the child to her ? Except that she is one of the sweetest of young creatures, what cause can iMarcia Latimar have for hating her? What-does it mean? I feel soinehow as if I were on the brink of- some horrible discovery; but there, -I am m old woman and ray head is full of ' fancies. ■ Here am I drawing pictures I of 'some impossible harm that, may happen to Penelope through the machinations of her cousin, and' all, because 'Mire Denis i» undoubtedly jealous of my child's beautiful faoe. I am a silly old .woman!' : r , But-although she scolded herself roundly and tried to forget her suspicious thoughts, Lady Susan was full of a Vague uneasiness that would not be completely soothed or wholly .dismissed- , It was a pouring wet day, the one following the arrival of the Litimars. at Lady Susan's, and 'Marcia hailed it as a' splution to a rather difficult problem. - ■ • 1 . * "Impossible to venture out on such a day,-1 am afraid,--' she said to Lady' Susan when they met at breakfast. "I had intended finding my way to pay a visit on my Cousin Penelope.' I presume it is my place to leave a card on her first, since she has "as«ttoied the position of a country householder." "I don't think we stand op such strict ceremony in Westshire, ' Lady Susan answered, trying valiantly, but not successfully, to chat pleasantly to •her guest, " jbut I am sure-Penelope would be delighted to see you, and really, Thicket Croft is a charming old place, and the child has made it so picturesque. The carriage is at your disposal, . Mrs Latimar, and I Bhnll be, very pleased to accompany you if you make up your mind to go—"'- ' JM.r cia turned suddenly to her; husband, who during this discussion was engaged in feeding Nuttie.

"What shall I do, Denis?" Marcia asked, in a lights jesting way, which was something quite new to her, and did not sit easily upon her. "You know you have constituted yourself., my medical, advfeer in the absence of all any numerous doctors. Do you think it will do .me any ha mi to go and eee Penelope this wet day?" Denis raised his head; he had been stooping down to caress Lady Susan's cosy pet. ./This Action-was enough to account for the red flush on his face to liis aunt; but Maircia knew better why it came and" what it signified. "I think it would be rather unwise," Denis said hurriedly. Why did such a sudden, strong objection rise'within him against a meeting between Penelope and his wife? He really had no sound argument to put forward in such a case, and yet there the objection was, and there it remained. ,

; Lady .Susan, listened, to/ this with something like dismay. "Afercy on me!" said to herself, "what am I to do with her all ■day? An hour of her society goes a tfery long way with me, but a whole day! I don't understand why Denis should coddle her up so .much. Of .'^uri»^shr 5: is mop. very 1 strong yet, . but 'in a, warrai carriage don't see could"<»me to her,'' f This? |r4tation ia,ving- some origin,. : liHbhe- iact .that Lady Susan had. a uirbng desire to see her "child," who iot over since Saturday, andlnow it was Tuesday Her sleep, • had been, broken, and troubled visions aid thoughts of " Penelope had flitted.; through her brain, and some:how "tt had* always beeh a sorrowful picture of the girl .that had eome. Lady. Susan had an almost uncontrollable desirS to set forth immediately and drive over to Thicket Croft i to see rfor that Penelope was j - Marcia accepted decision aw final. - , " ' "Ycia- see,«he saici<to Lady Susin, "tiie niUtter is"settled Ifo'r me. ? ' Denis ate his breakfast in silence. ■> 11 "• A■-. ; ,',4(T0.,1)e Continaed.) •" " •• f. •